Events for January 3, 2025
First Friday is celebrated on the first Friday of each month throughout Downtown Raleigh to showcase the best of our city's creative community. Thousands venture downtown to visit art galleries & studios open late to host exhibits, artist talks, and creative activities. Retailers and restaurants also get in on the fun with live music, vendor markets, specials/discounts, and more. There's something for everyone each First Friday.
Create your own First Friday itinerary by selecting the hearts for events and experiences you don't want to miss. Receive a custom map and itinerary to guide your First Friday evening!
Jae Green will be turning our Movement Studio into a vibey dance space.
This event will have a playlist of crowd favorites and will be a mix of group choreography and time to freestyle and move your body however you want!
Doors open at 5:30pm, and our Wellness Bar will be open. Dance studio will be from 6pm-7pm.
This event is FREE but registration is required.
Wear something that makes you feel good and that you don’t mind sweating in!
Come join us on the first First Friday of the new year for a night of live music featuring the talented guitar and vocalist, Michael Parker! Enjoy your favorite drinks while listening to soulful melodies and popular tunes!
Raleigh Walking Tours is excited to be partnering with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance to bring you the 2024 Illuminate Art Walk Sip n' Stroll tour!
My public tours are usually pay-what-you-want. However, because the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is sponsoring these tours, they are completely FREE to attend! Many thanks to the DRA for its generous support!
Downtown Raleigh comes to light every holiday season with Illuminate Art Walk! Since the winter of 2020, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance has brought energy to Fayetteville Street-and beyond–with large-scale, interactive, and light-based art pieces.
Much of the art changes from year to year, and this tour will allow you to see and explore all of the new art on Fayetteville St. in 2024! A highlight of this year's celebration is The TUNNEL created by BIG ART, powered by Creos. The TUNNEL is an interactive, 100-foot beacon of light with towering, mirrored LED structures that reflect vibrant colors, patterns, and mesmerizing effects.
Although this tour is free, advance registration is REQUIRED. I need to monitor the number of people on the tour, and I also need to be able to communicate with you if the tour needs to be cancelled for any reason.
Get ready for a night of unforgettable music and local vibes as Clairvoyant Band takes the stage for a First Friday celebration like no other! This isn't just a band— "Clairvoyant" is an emotion, a living, breathing force that’ll move you with every note. Their music is more than sound; it’s a journey that connects with your soul.
Joining Clairvoyant will be the incredibly talented Taylor Sharp, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist blending 2000’s indie with 60’s baroque pop/psych influences. Expect sounds inspired by the Beach Boys, The Strokes, and The Beatles—perfectly crafted for an evening of nostalgia and new tunes.
Also on the bill is Zamloch, a Raleigh-based indie/alternative rock band that brings the raw energy of 90’s and 2000’s alt-rock with a pop twist. Their emotionally charged performance will have you feeling every beat, as they sing about love, longing, and the ups and downs of life.
Come support these incredible local NC bands and experience a night of music that’s full of energy, heart, and creativity. It’s the perfect way to kick off your First Friday downtown at Slim’s Dive Bar!
Free entry, 21+ event, and drink specials all night. Don’t miss this epic night of live music!
227 South Wilmington St Raleigh NC 27601
Slim's Dive Bar Downtown Raleigh